Religious Disaffiliation in the US

#126
#126
Roustabout said:
Beautiful? You are just throwing out subjective terms.
I am thinking beyond the physical realm. We both agree that helping others is better than harming others. No argument. But, you haven't grounded this view. All you've done is provide a caveat, pain is Ok if.......
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That was a purposefully subjective term to demonstrate that pain can ultimately lead to pleasure. Don't get too hung up on semantics.

Pain is okay is ultimately leads to the maximization of pleasure for you, those around you, or both.

Serial killer has a pleasure/pain score of -5.

Dispatching of said killer requires a -4 pleasure/pain score.

If done, you are left with a pleasure/pain score of +1.
 
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#129
#129
Not surprising... Parents over the past generation quit being parents and wanted to be their child's friend .. No expectation or discipline about attend reqular church service... It's also more hip to say that you are spiritual which allows you wiggle room on the teachings
 
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#130
#130
Biopsyman said:
Not surprising... Parents over the past generation quit being parents and wanted to be their child's friend .. No expectation or discipline about attend reqular church service... It's also more hip to say that you are spiritual which allows you wiggle room on the teachings
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Well, this thread was good until the fundamentalist jackasses showed up.

RIP
 
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#131
#131
I attend church regularly, and have for 20 years now. I've seen a decline over this time. I understand how some things can happen and turn people away. I also think that as a society we are so busy in today's world, that a lot of folks feel they just don't have time. I love the Lord, and belong to a small independent church. I go for my relationship with him, and try not to get caught up in things. I'm not saying this to start a debate, or take a turn from your post OP, but the Bible does speak of a falling away of the church FWIW.
 
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#132
#132
Gramps said:
This has been a very interesting thread with no arguing, great job to dink and all the posters in his thread.

IMO, we are seeing a prophesy of the Bible being played out.

We are taught as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah and in the days of Noah will be when the Son of Man returns. In those days there were basically no believers or very few believers. We are seeing a shrinking number of believers yearly, just as the Bible predicted.

We are taught about false prophets and deceivers coming. We have more false prophets and deceivers than we have those that are actually doing the business of God.

When a church of any sect of religion is worried more about the number of people attending and the amount of money put in the collection plate instead of doing the work of God to get our people saved, they are teaching a false prophesy and deceiving people.

We are living in a time where the Word of God and teachings are being changed to satisfy man instead of teaching the Word of God. Because a church changes it's belief in order to satisfy it's people, that does not make it right, that is deceiving.

The Bible does teach these day would come, we are seeing them play out.

The life church goers live is also very important. The lives we live DAILY can and does affect how nonbelievers view religious people. Someone that people see living an ungodly life is not going to draw anyone to God, that will do the opposite.

Hypocrites cause people to view religion in a bad way. A hypocrite is the worse thing one can be, IMO. They have ran off people in droves that will never attend church because of things these people have done. Two examples of hypocrites are the actions of Westboro Baptist Church and the Catholic priest that molest children. One can find examples in every sect of religion.

That is my take and my belief. I know some will not agree and that is okay. We all have been granted the right to believe and worship the way we choose.

May God bless you all. Please continue this thread without arguing, it is one of the better thread I have read in the VN politics forum.
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The Catholic Church has grown while your church has been cut in half. Sexual abuse is just as rampant (if not more) in Protestant churches as it was in Catholic Churches. Protestants don't have a clear, concise message. Also if Protestants don't like what they are hearing, they get up and leave instead of figuring out why
 
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#133
#133
Every generation thinks it is seeing Biblical prophesy unfold in its time. You can view that as human nature, or more cynically as promoted by the churches themselves.

Or both.
 
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#134
#134
people who have stopped going to church because of people, will you stop following the Vols if AJ is found guilty? what about the Fulmer Cup of the glory days? why are you not agnostic, or non associated college football fans? Oh it's "different" because its a church asking for money, because a pastor has a past? If you are disassociating from an idea (a set religion) because of a person you are disassociating the wrong thing. Be the change you want to see, if you have concerns raise them. When you drop out and move on because it is easier you are leaving the problem to spread or at least fester. We are called to bring people back to/to the faith; if you can't do that in a religious group that shares at least nominally the same beliefs as you how are you going to do it in real life?
you don't have to stand up in the middle of a sermon and get in a fight with the pastor. talk to him/her one on one, talk to whatever small groups organize and make up the church, if you aren't willing to stand up for your beliefs why bother believing?
 
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#135
#135
LouderVol said:
people who have stopped going to church because of people, will you stop following the Vols if AJ is found guilty? what about the Fulmer Cup of the glory days? why are you not agnostic, or non associated college football fans? Oh it's "different" because its a church asking for money, because a pastor has a past? If you are disassociating from an idea (a set religion) because of a person you are disassociating the wrong thing. Be the change you want to see, if you have concerns raise them. When you drop out and move on because it is easier you are leaving the problem to spread or at least fester. We are called to bring people back to/to the faith; if you can't do that in a religious group that shares at least nominally the same beliefs as you how are you going to do it in real life?
you don't have to stand up in the middle of a sermon and get in a fight with the pastor. talk to him/her one on one, talk to whatever small groups organize and make up the church, if you aren't willing to stand up for your beliefs why bother believing?
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Interesting point. But in my experience when people stop going because of other people either they go somewhere else where they are more comfortable, or their disassociation was never about just other people.
 
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#136
#136
VolsNSkinsFan said:
The Catholic Church has grown while your church has been cut in half. Sexual abuse is just as rampant (if not more) in Protestant churches as it was in Catholic Churches. Protestants don't have a clear, concise message. Also if Protestants don't like what they are hearing, they get up and leave instead of figuring out why
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The catholic church has declined in the U.S. over the last 20 years along with every other denomination.

Stop acting like the Roman Catholics have religion on lock down - although I wish they did so I wouldn't have to watch Granny Clampett awkwardly begging the Catholics to "come home" during football season.
 
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#137
#137
Septic said:
The catholic church has declined in the U.S. over the last 20 years along with every other denomination.

Stop acting like the Roman Catholics have religion on lock down - although I wish they did so I wouldn't have to watch Granny Clampett awkwardly begging the Catholics to "come home" during football season.
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It's grown since the 1940s while the Protestants have been cut in half. Also it's projected to have 100 million members by 2050. Currently there are 55 million members in the US. Sorry the commercial brothers you. Maybe the Protestants should do something similar since they are the ones struggling w/ their message & members
 
#138
#138
n_huffhines said:
There was a pastor in Nashville who really rubbed me the wrong way.
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Didn't know you were catholic -

triumph_insult_comic_dog_soccer.jpg
 
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#140
#140
VolsNSkinsFan said:
It's grown since the 1940s while the Protestants have been cut in half. Also it's projected to have 100 million members by 2050. Currently there are 55 million members in the US. Sorry the commercial brothers you. Maybe the Protestants should do something similar since they are the ones struggling w/ their message & members
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Source?

World population increases can easily be attributed to the 'numbers'. I'd be curious to see which group is growing the fastest as a percentage of adherents and/or conversions.

In other words - which religion or non religion is growing there market share fastest?


Edit - found it: Be afraid
 
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#143
#143
VolsNSkinsFan said:
Religion | Gallup Historical Trends
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Interesting, thanks.

The two most striking are the none's and the christian (others).

Looks like you might be on to something with the Catholic message being consistent. I think the current pope will do wonders for bringing the religion into the 21st century even if means deviating from a dogma that has been impervious to change for so long.
 
#144
#144
Septic said:
Interesting, thanks.

The two most striking are the none's and the christian (others).

Looks like you might be on to something with the Catholic message being consistent. I think the current pope will do wonders for bringing the religion into the 21st century even if means deviating from a dogma that has been impervious to change for so long.
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What changes in dogma are you looking for with this Pope?
 
#145
#145
VolsNSkinsFan said:
What changes in dogma are you looking for with this Pope?
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Dogma was the wrong word. He's changing the sentiment of the organization as a whole, that should prove to be a long term positive.
 
#149
#149
VolsNSkinsFan said:
It's grown since the 1940s while the Protestants have been cut in half. Also it's projected to have 100 million members by 2050. Currently there are 55 million members in the US. Sorry the commercial brothers you. Maybe the Protestants should do something similar since they are the ones struggling w/ their message & members
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as a Catholic, and saying this simply as a fact, its the Latino population influx that is affecting our numbers. there is a current swing among the "native" Catholics to go back to church, but i am willing to bet most of that growth in America is coming from south of the border.
 
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#150
#150
I grew up going to a Baptist church with my parents and never really picked up what they were putting down. I had one question that meant a lot to me and I never could get an answer I liked from a protestant minister. I realize that getting the answer I like isn't what I should focus on, but it was just too upsetting for me to stay with that religion.
I then married a catholic girl who was way out of my league and she got me to ask her priest the same question. Finally, I heard the answer I was looking for so I immediately enrolled in RCIA and joined the church.
I TOTALLY get why Catholicism wouldn't be for everyone, but it seems to gel well with what I needed.


In case you were wondering, that question I had was regarding people of other religions and their journey towards heaven. I didn't like getting told that a vast majority of the people in the world would burn in a fiery Hell for eternity because they didn't believe what I believed.
 
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